Washing-machine.



J. H. & A. D. SHAW.

I WASHING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED D110. 30, 1912.

Patented May 19, 1914.

I a a 3 m m w J UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPHINE H. SHAW AND AMOS D. SHAW, OF SALINA, KANSAS.

WASHING-MACHINE.

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that we, J osnrnmn H. SHAW and Amos D. SHAW, citizens of the United States, residing at Salina, in the county of Saline and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in WVashing-Machines, and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in washing machines.

One object of the invention is to provide a washing machine having an improved construction and arrangement of dashcr or clothes agitating mechanism by means of which the clothes may be thoroughly agitated in the water of the tub or receptacle containing the same and by means of which the water may be forced through the clothes.

Another object is to provide a washing machine which will be simple, strong, durable and inexpensive in construction, ellicient in operation and which is provided with a receptacle having a convex perforated false bottom through which sediment passes and is prevented from being forced through the clothes during the washing operation.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, and the combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a central vertical section of our improved washing machine; Fig. 2 is a side view of the dashcr br clothes agitating mechanism thereof; Fig. 3 is a similar view of the agitating mechanism taken at right angles to the view shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the agitating mechanism and, Fig. 5 is a bottom plan View of the same.

Referring more particularly to the drawings 1 denotes the tub or receptacle of the washing machine, said tub or receptacle being constructed of any suitable material and of any suitable size and shape the same being shown in the present instance as of cylindrical form. Engaged with the main bottom 2 of the tub or receptacle 1 is a convex stationary false bottom 3 having therein a plurality of perforations 4 through which sediment is adapted to pass and is retained below said false bottom 3, thus preventing the sediment frolnbeing agitated and forced Specification of Letters Patent. Patented M 19 1914 Application filed December 30, 1912.

Serial No. 739,333.

through the clothes during the washing operation.

Adapted to be engaged with the tub or receptacle 1 is a convex cover 5 having on its inner side a depending flange 0 which is adapted to fit down into close engagement with the inner side of the upper end of the tub as shown. Secured to the inner side of the central portion of the cover 5 is a reinforcing plate 8 and through said cover and plate 8 are centrally disposed alined passages 9. The plate 8 and the cover 5 are spaced apart by a centrally disposed washer 10, the aperture of which is in line with the aperture 9 in said plate and cover. Engaged with the outer side of the cover 5 over the aperture therein is a ball bearing 11, a similar ball bearing 12 being arranged on the side of the plate 8. The ball bearings 11 and 12 are rigidly secured to the cover 5 and plate 8 by rivets or bolts 13 which are inserted through attaching flanges on said bearing and through the cover 5 and plate 8 as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Slidably and revolubly mounted in the apertures 9 of the cover 5 and plate 8 and having a similar engagement with the ball bearings 11 and 12 is an agitator shaft 14. the upper end of which is bent laterally at right angles to form a crank handle 15 having on its outer end a loose knob or gripping member 15. Secured to the inner end of the shaft 1 1 is a dasher or agitator comprising a flat horizontally disposed circular sup porting plate 16, t0 the upper side of which is secured a centrally disposed socket 17 in which the lower end of the agitator shaft 141; is secured by a bolt or other suitable fastening device 18. Secured to the lower side of the plate 16 is a perforated transversely disposed depending dasher blade 19 on the upper end of which is a right angular flange 20 which is riveted or otherwise secured to the lower side of the plate 16 as shown. The plate 19 projects below the plate 16 for a suitable distance and when the agitator is operated, is. adapted to force the water through the clothes in the tub or receptacle.

Secured to the plate 16 in a plane at right angles to that occupied by the dasher plate 19 and spaced a suitable distance from the latter are agitating fingers 21 which are preferably formed from galvanized wire rods bent midway between their ends to form a loop 22 and havingtheir upper ends engaged with apertures 23, The endsof the rods after being passed through the apertures 23 in the plate 16 are bent laterally in opposite directions and downwardly through apertures 24 and have their extremities clenched against the lower side of the plate 16 as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. By thus fastening the ends of the wire rods the agitator fingers 21 will be securely held in position on the plate 16 so that when the latter is revolved by the shaft 14: and crank handle 15 the clothes Will be engaged by said fingers and carried around through the water in the tub or receptacle thereby thoroughly washing the clothes. The clothes while being carried around by the agitating fingers are held down below the surface of the water in the receptacle by the plate 16 as will be readily understood. The perforations in the dasher plate'19 are designed to thoroughly agitate the water and to mix therewith shaved soap or other cleansing composition whereby a suds may be formed in the tub or receptacle before the clothes are placed therein.

- iently moving the same from place to place.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as shown.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

An agitating mechanism comprising a shaft, a horizontally disposed circular supporting plate secured to the shaft and adapted to be-freely rotated within the receptacle, a flat centrally disposed and transversely extendingrigid perforated dasher plate secured to and projecting downwardly from said supporting plate, and yielding agitating fingers comprising rods bent midway their ends and brought together with their extremities secured to the supporting plate, the lower looped ends of said agitating fingers extending below the said perforated plate, said fingers being located opposite the sides of the perforated dasher plate.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto JOSEPHINE H. SHAW. AMOS D. SHAW.

Witnesses:

AnoLrH VELTMAN,

RUTHERFORD B. DRAIS. 

